Softball Team on 6-Game Winning Streak

– Allison Goldsberry

The girls varsity softball team has been unstoppable lately, winning six back-to-back games in six days. After narrowly defeating two top teams, Arlington Catholic and Lexington, the team continued the momentum and went on to defeat Winchester, Cambridge, North Reading, and Arlington. The 15-5 Mustangs wrapped up their Memorial Day tournament on Sunday and closed the regular season against a tough Everett team on Monday.

Due to the strength of their record, Medford has earned a bye in the preliminary round in the state tournament. On Friday the Lady Mustangs, seeded 9th out of nineteen teams in North Division 1, head to #8 seed Boston Latin, also 15-5. The winner will play either Chelmsford (#1, 19-1), Beverly (#16, 11-9), or Andover (#17, 10-10).

Sunday’s 10-4 victory over Arlington sealed up the Memorial Day tournament victory for Medford, who soundly defeated North Reading 6-3 on Saturday en route to win it all.

The Mustangs were led by the “amazing bat and speed” of senior captain and tournament MVP Kasey Moran, who was 6-8 with four runs scored and four RBI’s.

Moran of course had plenty of help from her fellow Mustangs, who dominated the two-day tournament, said Head Coach Jack Dempsey.

Junior pitcher Rayann Staude picked up the win on both days, including the two-hit victory against Arlington. Junior Jackie Pellecchia contributed four hits in both games, three RBI’s, and performed some “outstanding defense” while senior captain Kristina Bove added three hits, three RBI’s, and “spectacular defense,” according to Coach Dempsey.

Other Lady Mustangs stepped up big for the team, including junior Shannon Hussey (four hits), junior Emily Welch (three hits and four RBI’s), senior captains Sarah Moulton and Victoria Luongo (each with two hits), freshman Sarah Donnelly (three hits and three RBI’s), and sophomore Sam Lopilato, with a couple of singles and solid defense at third base.

And that was just this weekend’s tournament. Last Thursday Medford edged Winchester 7-6 with three runs in the bottom of the seventh and on Friday the Mustangs defeated Cambridge 8-3 with Staude picking up the victory on the mound as well as banging out three hits and four RBI’s.

Senior captain Kristina Bove slid home to grab the team’s first run against North Reading on Saturday.

Junior Rayann Staude has come through with some clutch pitching for the Mustangs.

Senior captain Kasey Moran was the Memorial Day tournament MVP.

Team spirit has definitely helped the Mustangs keep their momentum going strong.

Junior Jackie Pellecchia can always be counted on for some hits.